Page 28 of Forgotten Deeds

“You really want to know?” She raises an eyebrow.

“Yes, the dumb brute really wants to know.”

“If you get to spank me for making disparaging remarks about myself, then I should get to spank you for the same thing.” Realizing what she just said, her cheeks turn the sweetest shade of pink.

I can’t help but laugh. “It’d be so damn cute watching you try.”

“That wasn’t supposed to be funny!” Lily huffs.

“Aggeloudhi mou, you can put your hands on my ass any time you want.”

“Stop it,” she says crossly, but her eyes have softened.

“Tell me about your essay,” I encourage her.

“I’m thinking about changing my topic from the goddess of helplessness to a more empowering female figure.” She considers. “Athena or Hecate. I don’t know, maybe Demeter.”

“How about Persephone, Demeter’s daughter?” I suggest.

She scoffs. “The goddess who was kidnapped by Hades and forced into marriage? Not exactly empowering.”

“Why not?” I challenge. “Gotta be pretty strong to rule as the queen of the underworld.”

Lily gives me a look I can’t interpret. “Actually, I like that idea.” She grabs her backpack and pulls out her notebook and pen, and begins jotting down something.

And I just had an even better idea.

We arrive in Newark, and I drive us to Lily’s house. Pulling into her driveway, I hop out and open the door for her. “Give this to the rainbow goddess, and I’ll be back to take you ladies out to dinner.”

She sighs, but takes the mermaid doll. “Okay.”

“Good girl,” I say, tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. Stealing a quick kiss—in and out before her busy brain can tell her to stop me—I admire her tight little ass as she disappears inside the house.

Not quite believing my good fortune, I smile the entire drive to Romeo’s house. The Fates obviously fucked up, but no take backs.

Pulling up to the gate, I scan my card and continue to the end of the driveway. My boss is a smart man—lives well, but not too well to attract the feds’ attention. And nobody wants the feds’ attention. I call Romeo’s head of security. “It’s Darius. I’m here for Romeo’s training session. Can you let me in the garage? I have some gym equipment I need to unload.”

“You got it.”

The garage door opens, and I pull my car into the empty spot. The older man greets me, and we unload the new cache, carrying the weapons to the basement for the time being. “Boss is in the game room.”

“Thanks,” I say, fist bumping him.

Walking upstairs, I find Romeo and Sammy playing a game of pool. “Boss. Sammy. How’s Luca?” I ask.

“He’ll be alright. Out of commission for the next few months, and he’s mad as hell about it,” Romeo reports, sizing up the table.

“I bet. Is he still at the clinic?”

Romeo shakes his head. “We’ve set up a makeshift hospital room in the guest bedroom. Nicky wants to be able to monitor him round the clock.”

“Nice your girl’s a doc,” I comment.

“I lucked out,” Romeo agrees. “Four ball, side pocket,” he calls before smacking the ball into the hole.

“Can I see him?”

“Not now,” he tells me, chalking up his cue. “He’s asleep, and I finally talked Nicky into taking a nap. She’s been up for nearly twenty-four hours.”

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